Upton Court, Upton Bishop

Has been described as a Questionable Palace (Bishop)

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameUpton Court, Upton Bishop
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishUpton Bishop

Thompson lists as residential manor of medieval bishop of Hereford. However, Tonkin states that this was a manor of the bishop of Hereford, but that there were no associated residences.

C14 core, largely remodelled during late C16, further C17 alterations, further remodelling during late C18 and early C19, C20 alterations. Timber-framed core largely refaced and replaced with sand- stone rubble, C20 tiled roof. Hall range aligned north-east/south-west with-late C16 cross-wing to south-west end. Through-passage now obscured by later alterations, gable-end stack to hall; lateral stack to cross-wing. C20 additions to rear parallel with hall range and further minor additions to south-east front. Two storeys; south-east front: gable end of cross- wing to left with 4-light and transomed C19 casement window, three 2-light casement windows to hall range to right, C20 porch and door to left of centre, enlarged C20 window and C20 French casement to right; single storey later addition further to right. A 4-light stone mullioned window survives to south-west return of cross-wing and fragmentary herringbone framing survives in gable end to rear of cross-wing. Interior: largely altered during C20 but retaining five-bay smoke-blackened roof of C14 hall range; collar and tie-beam trusses with moulded ridge and principals cusped above collar level. Trusses appear to have been altered at a later date with the addition of swept braces to collar-beam. One truss retains a section of cusping below the collar. The C14 block seems to have extended further to the south. Listed II-star for the importance of its roof structure. The panelling in the south-west room mentioned by RCHME has been removed. (Listed Building Report)

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO65751
Latitude51.9509010314941
Longitude-2.49927997589111
Eastings365784
Northings228155
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 178
  • RCHME, 1932, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 2: east p. 194 no. 3 online transcription
  • Robinson, Rev. C. J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire

Journals

  • Tonkin, J.W., 1976, 'The palaces of the bishop of Hereford' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 42.1 p. 53-64
  • Ford, R.A., 1938, 'Upton Court in the Parish of Upton Bishop, Herefordshire' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club p. 167-170

Other

  • Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales (available via EThOS)